You are running downwind on port and a starboard boat is coming straight at you. Do you gybe away from her, or slow down for two seconds and duck her stern?
Duck her. On port you keep clear of a starboard boat (Rule 10), but gybing away is the costly way to do it. In our drawing Blue gybed away, gybed back, met Green again and gybed a third time. Red held her course, bore away a little, slowed down, slipped just behind Green's stern and went straight on to the mark, ending nearly five lengths closer. The drawing does not even count the speed every gybe costs on the water. Start the move early, because a small turn early costs less than a big one late, and only gybe if you wanted to gybe anyway (more wind, or the better side of the course).
📖 Want Rule 10 in your pocket? The Racing Rules Companion 2025-2028 is a spiral-bound quick reference to the current rules. (affiliate link)
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<p><a href="https://sailing.kiwi.nz/v/jS8G6N2UUBo/">Source: Sailing Kiwi</a></p>Go deeper: books and gear
- Tactics Made Simple by Jon Emmett — Racing tactics, explained simply.
- Racing Rules Companion 2025-2028 by Bryan Willis — Spiral-bound pocket guide to the current rules.
- Five Oceans masthead wind indicator — See the wind direction at a glance.
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